Episode 8 - 'High School Friend Contest'

'Snookered'

By Blind Freddy 11.08.07

For fifteen seasons now Mark Burnett has loved to showcase castaways faltering in their chosen area of expertise. The oars(wo)man who can't row. The chopper who can't chop. The Mensa who can't solve puzzles...and on and on. And Survivor China is no exception.

In episode eight, we find Jean-Robert the Poker champion scrambling for his life when he finds out he has been Outwitted, Outplayed and soon to be Outlasted by his non-Poker playing comrades. This Poker master should be able to read the 'tells' of any and all of his rivals, especially at this point in the game. However last TC Jean-Robert found himself completely in the dark about the Hidden Idols, which virtually everyone else knew full well about.

And what play does this Poker master pull from his bag of tricks?...the bluff play. Jean-Robert tries to bluff the one person in the tribe who knows without a doubt what and where the Hidden Idol(s) are...because he (James) has both of them already. This will be a bluff very poorly played and the results will be very 'telling'.

While Jean-Robert has many of the tools that would potentially help him in his Survivor quest for the million dollars, he has fallen short from the get-go by violating one of the basic rules of any game, Poker or otherwise: 'respect your opponent'. Jean-Robert failed to do much of any research on how Survivor is played or even whom might be attracted to such a social game. He failed to respect the quality of the game and the quality of his opponents. This will be his downfall. The 'rubes' Jean-Robert might have thought he was facing will take him to task at Tribal Council and call him on his bluff. Coming up empty handed, Jean-Robert will exit much sooner than his vast abilities might have carried him were he to have done even the minimum background research on Survivor.

So Jean-Robert good-guy/bad-guy strategy will come to an end tonight revealing his own 'tells' to future Poker opponents. Survivor is a vicious social game that rivals any in the card playing world. He would do well to keep that in mind the next time he visits the card table as well.

Welcome home Survivor Jean-Robert, it was a good run while it lasted. Next time know and respect your opponents.

Episode 8 Boot - Jean-Robert Bellande

'Stupid is as Stupid Does'

By Blind Freddy 11.01.07

This episode brings the Merge to the castaways just as a pallor of stupidity envelopes them all. Hidden Idols are wistfully created in people's minds as they will seem to spring up everywhere this episode. Stupid is as stupid does.

And even those who have the real ones aren't fully thinking things through when bragging about their invincibility at Tribal Council of all places. Someone will even attempt to lighten James' heavy HI load a bit until SEG slaps their hand and says: 'No!'. Lastly we have Courtney continuing on her Quixote-like quest to boot her evil nemesis Jean-Robert...much to Todd's frustration. Stupid is as stupid does.

So it would seem the theme for this episode would likely fit the Forrest Gump soundbite of: 'Stupid is as stupid does'. So when we think back to Jaime's poor tact with regard to the IC5 chal throw, it should come as no surprise that the stupid gene runs deeper than just this episode. It's one thing to make a clever play and yet another to rub it in someone's face. Stupid is as stupid does.

A hard fighting gamer beneath a placid exterior, Jaime has gamed her way this far to win the heart of Erik and the votes of her enemies. A true survivor...welcome home Survivor Jaime.

Episode 7 Boot - Jaime Dugan

Episode 6 - 'That's Love Baby, It Makes You Strong!'

'Strategery'

By Blind Freddy - 10.25.07

Sometimes a pic is worth a thousand words. This is one of those times.

This episode strategy and sometimes 'strategery' will come into play big time as James struggles to survive over at NuZhanHu. As deals fly and wizards whiz, a dangerous plan is concocted to turn the tables on those challenge throwing NuHus of the yellow buffed variety.

I suggest that Survivor whiz-kid Todd along with Amanda and under the watchful gaze of peeping-tom Frosti, will discover the NuFeiLong Hidden Idol. Hush money in the form of Episode Immunity is promised as deals are made. One step in the plan is the kidnap of James back home to report on all things HuZu.

When the HuZu 'strategery' of challenge throwing is fully realized, a counter strategy is proposed to give the HI to James for his return to HuZu land. And hopes are raised to lure the HuZus into following through with an Immunity challenge throw and a TC targeting of James. The obvious consequences of such a complicated plan are the booting of one of HuZu's own in James' place.

Now 'strategery' is an interesting approach to gameplans both in real life and reality life as we've come to know. Solid planning can often go awry when assumptions are made and the power of free will runs amok. Some of both can be expected this episode.

Ultimately, I predict that James' ambush plan will go unfulfilled and NuFeiLong will lose the Gross Food IC. Now this is where strategy from an orphaned NuZu will prove vital to his safety. Remember peeping-tom Frosti?...well that deal to hush will save him this episode and force the boot of Sherea. In this case, 'no plan' is clearly inferior to a dangerous plan, a bad plan...and even to, dare we say it: 'strategery'.

Sherea is well accustomed to making teacher plans in her real world classroom. It's hard to understand why there seemed to be no real plan in her Reality world adventure. Perhaps it was just too well hidden. Regardless, Sherea excelled in the challenges and proved herself worthy of the title Survivor. Welcome home Survivor Sherea.

Episode 6 Boot - Sherea Lloyd

Episode 4 - 'Ride the Workhorse Till the Tail Falls Off'

'Save a Horse, Ride a Bartender'

By Blind Freddy - 10.11.07

Well here we are again, same pony...same ride...just further along on the boot trail. Get-along-little-doggy, get-along. Dave has extended his fifteen minutes to twenty while foiling the spoilers in the process. So kudos to CBS for salvaging at least one boot (so far) for the season. Are they on a roll?

Justifying a Dave boot (once again) is easy for the fans. Dave it seems has offended most, if not everyone, on his tribe with his sarcasm and slighting remarks. Just bad judgment on his part I'd say and not necessarily a mean streak in his heart. This is after all, a TV show...remember? And a Reality one at that.

Sharing the spotlight this episode will be the rise (and soon to fall) spotlight of Jean-Robert as he implements his unique good survivor/bad survivor strategy. Unfortunately low energy levels provide for low attention spans and at this point in the game his trajectory course might be already plotted.

In the meantime, Dave's usefulness as the workhorse over at Zhan Hu is running thin as the ever shrinking tribe reduces to its core. And even some of those will be thankful for the coming switch next episode to save their hides.

So are there any surprises left for the viewers? Of course...CBS would never fill in all the blanks. So keep your eyes on the prize(s)...Hidden Idols that is...lots of surprises in that area during the coming episodes.

Welcome home (again) Dave. Time for the workhorse to hit the barn.

Episode 4 Boot - Dave Cruser 

Episode 3 - 'I Lost Two Hands and Possibly a Shoulder'

'Home Improvement'

By Blind Freddy 12.04.07

As things deteriorate at the Zhan Hu homefront, its inhabitants continue to search for a way to do some home improvement. Let's see...they could re-build their shelter someplace other than a swamp/mud pit. They could hide the dirt under the metaphorical rug, pretending it doesn't exist while continuing to circle the drain. Or maybe they could do a clean sweep of the debris within their camp and start anew.

Now any major home improvement project requires a handyman, one handy with tools...a 'toolman' per se. Low and behold, square in the middle of the Zhan Hu squalor sits our very own Dave 'the toolman' Cruser. Let's see if he can make things right.

Ummmm no, apparently he can't...though he can build a mean BBQ. Unfortunately the cuisine of choice is not BBQ but rather Stir Fry. And who better to stir and fry his butt than his fellow tribemates who are tired of the attitude and rudeness. In Dave's defense, outdoor survival with rudimentary provisions will test anyone's patience. But with a million dollars at stake, a little patience costs very little against the long-term payback. 

Normally, tribal progress should be at least as fast as even today's relaxed construction worker standards. And deadlines should be met just like any home improvement project. But you'd think that a 'toolman' like Dave would know his craft and keep the project moving along smoothly. Well you'd be wrong.

Dave chose poorly when he took the leadership bait. He chose poorly in his communication methods. He chose poorly in setting his priorities. And now the tribe will hold him accountable for his actions. Not that it will change much considering the poor work habits of an unskilled tribe. Afterall there's only so much you can do with the tools you have left...now isn't there.

Welcome home Survivor Dave, it's a shame to leave a project undone but it's somebody else's mess now. The lesson to be learned here: if you're gonna be a toolman, you'd better at least know how to use your tools. We'll see if the workerbees do any better on their own. Oh wait...Chicken said that same thing. And the beat goes on....

Episode 3 Boot - Dave Cruser